A Muslim woman was escorted from a Donald Trump campaign rally in Rock Hill, S.C., after standing in silent protest, donning a white hijab and T-shirt that read, “Salam. I Come In Peace.”
The New York Daily News reports that Rose Hamid, a 56-year-old flight attendant, stood up in opposition to the Republican front-runner’s comments that Syrian refugees fleeing war were connected to the Islamic State group’s terrorism.
The outlet notes that after her action, the mood at the event turned nasty as the crowd booed Hamid with shouts of “Trump! Trump!” and one woman reportedly shouted, “You have a bomb,” as security removed her from the venue.
“The ugliness really came out fast, and that’s really scary,” said Hamid.
As Hamid was being escorted out, Republican front-runner Trump said: “There is hatred against us that is unbelievable. It is their hatred, it’s not our hatred.”
Trump has previously called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S.
Hamid said she believes that Trump’s inflammatory comments are responsible for stirring up anti-Muslim sentiment. “This demonstrates how, when you start dehumanizing the other, it can turn people into very hateful, ugly people,” she said.
She also said that some supporters apologized for the crowd’s reaction and were “very sweet.”
Hamid said to the Daily Telegraph that she wanted to dispel myths about Muslims by her presence.
"I figured that most Trump supporters probably never met a Muslim, so I figured that I’d give them the opportunity to meet one,” said Hamid.
Read more at the New York Daily News.